Scissor sharpener



Nov. 21, 1967 G. MOORE SCISSOR SHARPENER Filed Dec.

IN VEN TOR LLOYD G. M0025 United States Patent Ofiiice 3,353,427 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 3,353,427 SCISSOR SHARPENER Lloyd G. Moore, Rte. 3, Box 80, Drlaud, Calif. 95963 Filed Dec. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 513,040 2 Ciaims. (Cl. 7682.2)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This sharpener includes a flat strip of metal having one end bent into substantially U-shape. The sides of the U-shaped portion have a pair of transverse, aligned openings. A rod extends through these openings. The other end of the strip is bent at an obtuse angle. This other end forms one portion of a clamp for clamping a blade of a scissors. A spacer member 16 or 20 is between the jaws of the clamp. These spacer members have off-center openings so that different sized blades can be properly spaced with respect to the clamp. In use, as shown in FIGURE 1, an abrasive member is placed on a flat surface, the rod is adjusted in the U-shaped portion until the blade is at the correct angle with respect to the surface of the abrasive member and the blade and strip rotated as a unit about the rod until the grinding of that blade is sufficient. The other blade is then ground in the same way. As shown in FIGURE 2 the rod may extend through the flat surface and the abrasive member may be mounted on a shaft which extends through the fiat surface, which shaft may or may not be driven.

This invention relates to sharpeners, and more particularly to sharpeners specifically adapted to the sharpening of scissors and the like.

In perusal of literature illustrating the different types of sharpeners specifically adapted to the sharpening of scissors none have been found that satisfactorily holds the scissors while the blade is being sharpened. Most sharpeners require the operator of the device to firmly hold the scissors, something that is more often than not very hard, if not impossible, to do if the scissors blade is to be properly sharpened.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a scissors sharpener having structure specially adapted to firmly hold the scissors while the blade is being sharpened by the rotation of a horizontally disposed grinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide a scissors sharpener of the character described, that has a minimum number of parts and adjustments.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a scissors sharpener that is so simple to operate that it can be used by nearly anyone, regardless of their lack of experience with sharpening devices.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and the appended drawing is examined. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this invention having scissors secured thereto for sharpening.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIGURE 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of one of the details of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of another one of the details of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 7 indicating the flat base having an opening therein through which one end of the rotating shaft 8 is placed. A sharpening wheel 9, which is actually a horizontally disposed disk grinder, is suitably secured to the upper end of the aforesaid shaft 8. The sharpening wheel is prevented from touching the upper surface of the aforesaid fiat base 7 by a washer 10 that is slipped over the previously mentioned shaft as clearly shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing where it is also seen that a vertically disposed rod 11 projects upwardly from the aforesaid base '7 in order to provide support for the scissors holder 12.

The scissors holder 12 consists of a fiat strip of metal having a U-shaped end 13 through which is located a pair of vertically spaced openings in order that the holder may be supported by the aforesaid rod 11 projecting through the openings, as one can see by looking at the appended drawing. The other or outer end 14 of the aforesaid scissors holder is bent or otherwise formed at an obtuse angle and is provided with a centrally located opening through which is placed one end of the screw 15 which also passes through the spacer 16 that is located directly back of the end 14, as well as through the jaw 17. A knurled nut 18 that is placed on the outer end of the screw 15 securely holds this assembly together after the scissors blade 19 has been placed between the back of the end 14 and the jaw 17 with the lower edge of the spacer 16 restin against the back of the scissors blade 19. The cutting edge of the aforesaid scissors blade 19 obviously rests at the proper angle against the upper surface of the sharpening Wheel 9 which sharpens the scissors blade as the wheel rotates at speed.

The aforesaid spacer 16, which is best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the appended drawing, can be of any desired shape when viewed from the fiat side. In fact, different configurations are necessary in order for this invention to hold the cutting blade of the scissors at the desired angle since the cutting blade of a scissors naturally varies at an angle in relation to the back of the blade, depending upon the size and type of scissors being sharpened. Then, too, this invention of a sharpener may also be used for sharpening nearly any kind of knife or in fact any device having a longitudinally dispose-d flat cutting edge that can be secured in the outer end of this invention. An optional form of the spacer is shown in FIGURE 4 where it is indicated by the number 20. In this form the opening, which is off-center, is indicated by the number 21. This optional form of spacer will obviously be used for a different scissor blade or its equivalent than that which will require the one shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

The spacers of FIGURES 3 and 4 can be used in different positions depending upon the width of the blade that is to be sharpened.

The sharpener can be used with a stationary stone by oscillating the sharpener and scissors about rod 11.

The aforesaid sharpening wheel 9 may be rotated by an electric motor or any other desired source of power, or it may be rotated by a hand crank. The invention can either be mounted on any suitable support in the illustrated horizontal position, or it may be set in a vertical position, the latter to be desired if the device is to be hand operated.

It should be clear from the just made statement, that this invention is subject to changes and modifications both in its assembly and the configuration of its detailed parts. Any changes and modifications can be made in the invention in so long as they fall within the scope and intent of the appended claims.

What I now claim as new is:

1. A scissors sharpener comprising a flat base, a strip of metal having a U-shaped end in which is located a pair of substantially aligned transverse openings, a rod secured to the base and extending through these openings, the other end of the strip bent at an obtuse angle and means for clamping a blade of a scissors to the other end in a 2. The combination of claim 1 in which the clamping means includes a polygon shaped spacing member with 5 an off-center opening, said spacing member being in contact with the other end of the metal strip, a clamping jaw in contact with the spacing member and a screw passing through aligned openings in said other end and in said clamping jaw and through said elf-center opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, 111., Prim-wry Examiner. 

1. A SCISSORS SHARPENER COMPRISING A FLAT BASE, A STRIP OF METAL HAVING A U-SHAPED END IN WHICH IS LOCATED A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY ALIGNED TRANSVERSE OPENINGS, A ROD SECURED TO THE BASE AND EXTENDING THROUGH THESE OPENINGS, THE OTHER END OF THE STRIP BENT AT AN OBTUSE ANGLE AND MEANS FOR CLAMPING A BLADE OF A SCISSORS TO THE OTHER END IN A TRANSVERSE POSITION, A SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BASE, AND AN ABRASIVE DISK MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT ABOVE SAID BASE. 